Interview with Dr. Kibble – New York City Veterinarian

• Is Dr. Kibble your real name? 🙂

  • Hi! Excited to introduce myself to the iloveveterinary community! My name is Katja Braun Lang and my initials are KBL. So naturally when someone nicknamed me Dr. Kibble it stuck! I work at Heart of Chelsea Animal Hospital which is located in lower Manhattan. I live in Brooklyn with my husband, turtle named Sheldon, 2 dachshunds named Mardi and Lucy and 1 baby baby named Hayes Jaguar!

 

Throw back to this past Tuesday and the sweetest puss Potter (Harry’s brother) waking up from anesthesia and loving his happy potion. These two work their magic on @doctor_kibble heart ❤️! . . . #catsofinstagram #cat #cats #rescue #veterinarian #animal #animals #animalhospital #drkibblegram #pets #pet #petsofinstagram #kitty #tbt #puss

A post shared by Dr. Katja B Lang (@doctor_kibble) on Nov 9, 2017 at 5:40am PST

• Why did you decide to become a vet?

  • I grew up next to a veterinary surgeon in Westchester, NY.  I remember him rehabilitating baby deer and thinking he has the coolest job in the world. He also pioneered the lateral suture technique for ACL repairs (but i didn’t know this until years later when I was in vet school and he was in the textbook I was reading!). By 5 years old I was telling everyone I was going to be a vet when I grew up.

• Where did you study?

  • I earned my DVM at Cornell University and loved it! The best thing about Cornell is that it combines lectures, small group case-based learning and hands on live animal experience. When we were learning about the bones of the dog in lectures, we would have a lab about how to perform orthopedic exams and a case discussion about a Rottweiler with osteosarcoma.

• What does your veterinary work include?

  • I work in a small animal private practice in Chelsea. We mostly see dogs and cats but occasionally see small mammals as well. I love that on the same day, I am performing surgery and working on dermatolgy, cardiology and internal medicine cases.

• How is it like to be a Vet in New York?

  • Working in New York City has its benefits and challenges. The case load is high and we see a lot of contagious diseases since all the animals share the same “bathroom.” My clientele varies from US postal workers to actors to fashion bloggers and so much more. I love meeting new people so everyday is exciting. The majority of veterinary positions in NYC require an internship or several years of experience to be considered.

 

Hernia repair ain’t so bad when you get to twin with Dr Kibble! Ammirite Piper! ????‍♀️ **Vet tip – the most common type of hernia in a dog is an umbilical hernia. It can be surgically repaired to prevent organs from getting trapped*

A post shared by Dr. Katja B Lang (@doctor_kibble) on Jan 15, 2018 at 5:14am PST

• What are the most common cases you see in your clinic? Do you have some advice for pet owners?

  • We see a lot of skin (mostly allergy-related) and gastrointestinal problems. My advice for pet owners is to strictly limit the amount of treats/human food. I see SO many overweight animals which leads to different health problems. I would highly recommend getting pet insurance before your first vet visit to help off set any unexpected costs.

• Do you have any other engagements other than your daily job as a veterinarian?

  • I’m a guest speaker on DoctorRadio on Sirius XM and would love to have my own radio show one day! I’m also a mom to 8 month old Hayes and in my free time love to spend time cooking and being active outdoors.

 

????Thank you everyone who listened and called in from Florida to California with their pet questions on @siriusxm #doctorradio ! ???? If you missed the LIVE segment you can also catch me from 5-6PM ET tomorrow, Friday morning from 5-6AM ET; and Sunday from 7-8AM ET . . . #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dogsofinsta #dog #pet #petsofinstagram #pets #veterinarian #animal #animalhospital #drkibblegram #cats #catsofinstagram #rescue #radio

A post shared by Dr. Katja B Lang (@doctor_kibble) on Oct 3, 2017 at 5:05am PDT

• Tell us something about your favorite breed Dachshunds? 🙂

  • I love dachshunds! I think they are the cutest, most stubborn and loyal dogs. I love their small size but that they have the energy of an Australian shepherd!

• Do you have any advice for the future vets? (maybe some advice about Cornell University?)

  • My advice for future vets is that it is never too early to start your career. When I was 15, I got my first job working in a vet office taking care of the boarded animals. Most vet schools require a certain about of animal experience but more importantly, you want to make sure it is the right career for you so immersing yourself in the field is really beneficial.

• What are your goals for the future?

  • I’d love to get involved in more rescue/shelter work. I also love educating pet owners so would like to further my outreach through social media and the digital ecosystem.